One of the largest weeks of token unlocks for the autumn season is coming to the market. According to Tokenomist, from November 17 to 24, assets worth more than $297 million will be unlocked. A large number of new tokens will enter circulation simultaneously, which may amplify price fluctuations and create pressure on several large and medium-sized projects.
Large one-time unlocks increase supply pressure. A significant part of the upcoming emission comes from cliff unlocks — sharp, simultaneous releases. Such events traditionally exert short-term pressure on the market, especially if more than 5% of the supply is released or when assets are in the hands of early investors and funds.
Among the most notable unlocks of the week:
| Date | Token (Symbol) | Unlock Type | Tokens Unlocked | Est. USD Value | % of Market Cap/Supply | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17 | Caldera (ERA) | Cliff | Not specified | $1.70M | 4.13% | – |
| Nov 17 | Zerobase (ZBT) | Cliff | Not specified | $4.76M | 16.93% | – |
| Nov 17 | Aster (ASTER) | Cliff | ~164.7M (est. from partial data) | $147.72M (varies; other sources cite ~$85M) | 5.95–8.16% | Largest single event; DEX-focused project. Values differ across sources due to real-time pricing. |
| Nov 17 | ApeCoin (APE) | Vesting | Not specified | $5.28M | 2.04% | – |
| Nov 17 | zkSync (ZK) | Vesting | Not specified | $9.40M | 2.39% | – |
| Nov 17 | Ancient8 (A8) | Cliff | Not specified | $1.05M | 6.48% | – |
| Nov 18 | Lombard (BARD) | Cliff | Not specified | $7.97M | 4.58% | – |
| Nov 18 | FC Porto (PORTO) | Vesting | Not specified | $2.71M | 24.52% | Fan token; high % impact. |
| Nov 19 | Merlin Chain (MERL) | Cliff | Not specified | $12.70M | 3.39% | – |
| Nov 19 | Pixels (PIXEL) | Vesting | Not specified | $1.15M | 2.96% | – |
| Nov 20 | Kaito (KAITO) | Cliff | Not specified | $12.30M | 6.91% | AI-related project. |
| Nov 20 | Sapien (SAPIEN) | Cliff | Not specified | $1.23M | 3.03% | – |
| Nov 20 | LayerZero (ZRO) | Cliff | Not specified | $35.74–42.10M | 12.45% | Cross-chain protocol; values vary slightly by source. |
| Nov 21 | Plume (PLUME) | Cliff | Not specified | $7.51M | 7.64% | – |
| Nov 21 | Aria.AI (ARIA) | Cliff | Not specified | $1.48M | 8.49% | – |
| Nov 22 | 0G (0G) | Cliff | Not specified | $10.93M | 4.09% | – |
| Nov 22 | Space ID (ID) | Vesting | Not specified | $1.09M | 1.06% | – |
| Nov 23 | Zora (ZORA) | Cliff | Not specified | $7.28M | 3.15% | – |
| Nov 23 | Meteora (MET) | Cliff | Not specified | $3.02M | 1.49% | – |
Unlocks of this scale almost always lead to increased market activity and short-term fluctuations. Tokens are especially vulnerable where the percentage of new supply is high and liquidity is below average.
Why this wave may be key for the market
Unlocks themselves are not a new factor. But this time they are happening under conditions of:
- declining spot liquidity
- rising derivatives volumes amid bets on declines
- pressure from macroeconomic risks
- heightened correction in altcoins after local October highs
The market is already showing increased nervousness. For some projects, new tokens may increase pressure if funds or early investors decide to take profits.
How traders should assess unlock risks
The impact depends on three factors:
1. Percentage of total supply.
High values (YZY, MBG, ZRO) almost always lead to increased volatility.
2. Liquidity.
ZK can absorb an unlock without significant losses if the market is not under pressure.
3. Token’s behavior during previous unlocks.
Some assets regularly fall a few days before the event but quickly recover afterward. In recent weeks, the trend has continued: short-term selling often occurs 48–72 hours before the unlock, not after it.
A week of heightened attention
With $297 million in upcoming unlocks, the market is entering a phase where any increase in sell-offs among major assets can quickly trigger a chain reaction.
On the other hand, active traders use unlocks as an entry point for short-term trades, especially if highly liquid tokens fall without fundamental reasons. The next seven days will show how ready the market is to absorb increased supply amid unstable demand.
Read more: Arthur Hayes sells crypto amid volatility
